Simon Field: Smoky, foursquare, lean, and a little stark, the less engaging characteristics of Touriga Nacional to the fore; leafy on the finish, drying tannins and the spirit disjointed and a little uncomfortable. | 84

Andrew Jefford: One of the densest, most deeply colored wines in a very deep cohort. Rather green, primary, herbaceous aromas, oddly enough; moist coal and crushed charcoal; grunty and earthy and sappy. Impressive but slightly odd. Sweet and fresh, with massive tannins and very low acidity; I’m a little puzzled as to the source of this “green” freshness in such a transparently ripe wine, but it works very well provided you are not looking for the kind of juiciness that acid-pointed fruit would bring. An extraordinary and special wine—and hard to score, because it is special and sui generis. But it is distinguished, and it will last very well. | 92

Richard Mayson: Deep, opaque, withdrawn though with lovely, ripe, dark-chocolate character underlying on the nose; full, powerful tannins which rather overpower the fruit at this stage, on both the mid-palate and the finish. Quite a heavy extractive style, one for the long haul that needs time to emerge from its tannic shell. Not showing much grace or finesse at this stage. | 85